The Liberal member for Hughes, Craig Kelly, says he has a ‘verbal agreement’ to co-host Sky News’ Outsiders program.
Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The Liberal MP Craig Kelly, a leading climate change sceptic in the Liberal party, is set to become a regular co-host of Sky News’ Outsiders program following the network’s decision to sack Ross Cameron for racist comments.

Kelly confirmed he had a “verbal agreement” to co-host the program with commentator Rowan Dean once a week.

Kelly is currently the sitting member for Hughes in Sydney’s south but faces a serious preselection challenge for his seat before the federal election next year. The preselection has been delayed amid lobbying to get his challenger, Kent Johns, a moderate, to pull out. Johns is resisting the overtures.

Ross Cameron sacked from Sky News after racist comments about Chinese people

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“All members of parliament make regular appearances on Sky News,” he told the Guardian. “[Minister for defence] Christopher Pyne is the host on Pyne and Marles.

“We are are talking about a weekly spot on Outsiders.”

Sky News terminated the contract of its Outsiders presenter Ross Cameron last week for using racist language to describe Chinese people.

Cameron described Chinese people as “black-haired, slanty-eyed, yellow-skinned” during a 30 October broadcast.

The activist group Sleeping Giants Oz, which aims to hold the media accountable by targeting advertisers who sponsor at-times problematic programs, published the clip on social media, where it was quickly picked up by the former race commissioner Tim Soutphommasane.